Work Experience
Work experience can be an excellent opportunity to gain experience and find out more about working with and for wildlife via your local BIAZA zoo or aquarium. Work experience opportunities are available across a number of BIAZA members. You can find your nearest BIAZA member here and then see if they have opportunities listed below. Please note that we have a separate volunteering page here.
If you are interested in work experience, please visit the weblinks or use the contact details provided next to the collection. If you are a BIAZA member who’d like to update their work experience information, please email [email protected]
| AFRICA ALIVE |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Students who are currently studying level 3 in an animal related course, A levels or higher can apply, age 18 yrs or over. Placement can be block release, single days or dependent on your requirements. There is a nonrefundable administration fee of £125.00 to carry out a placement at the park. |
To secure a booking contact workexperience@zsea.org. |
| BANHAM ZOO |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Students who are currently studying level 3 in an animal related course, A levels or higher can apply, age 18 yrs or over. Placement can be block or day release, dependent on your requirements. There is a non-refundable administration fee of £125.00 to carry out a placement at the zoo. |
CONTACT DETAILS workexperience@zsea.org. |
| BEALE PARK |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Beale Park offers volunteer work on both the animals and gardens covering a range of experiences. Some areas are prohibited to volunteers. Places are available on the animal department for work experience students from colleges. |
Please contact [email protected] |
| BATTERSEA PARK CHILDREN'S ZOO |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Unfortunately we will not be taking or considering any volunteer or work experience placements at all for the foreseeable future. |
Please contact: Jason Palmer Battersea Park Children’s Zoo Battersea Park London SW11 4NJ Telephone: 0207 9245826 [email protected] |
| BELFAST ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Experience offered in keeping, administration and marketing. Varying lengths from 1 week to 1 year. Must be 17+. Must be applied for via Belfast City Council |
Please contact David Goodwin Belfast City Council Human Resources Department. Cecil Ward Building 4-10 Linenhall Street Belfast BT2 8BP. Phone: 028 9032 0202 |
| BERKSHIRE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Applicants need to be 18+ and placements need to be for a minimum of 5 consecutive days and take place outside of college term time. The role would be based on either our exotic small mammal and birds section or our reptile, amphibian and invertebrate section, applicants can specify which section they would like to work on when contacting us. It would include helping out with our animal husbandry, training and general maintenance. |
Send a CV and covering letter to [email protected] |
| THE BIG CAT SANCTUARY |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| No |
BCS does not offer short term work placements due to the type of animals we hold but we do take on interns for a 6 or 12 month period. |
Please visit our website |
| BIRMINGHAM WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PARK |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Currently we offer the following: Work experience - (block placements – 1 to 2 weeks. Must be 14 years old and above). Work placements - (1 day a week for up to 12 months as part of college/university course.) Block placements up to 1 month – must be 16 years old and above) Volunteering - (1 day a week for up to 12 months. Must be 16 years old and above). Duke of Edinburgh Awards – (1 day a week until the required hours are completed. Must be 14 years old and above). |
Reception Team - contact telephone number: 0121 464 8728. Email: [email protected] |
| BLACKPOOL ZOO |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Blackpool Zoo has opportunities in the following roles: A Year in Industry; Animal Team Support Student (Full-time and Part-time); Wildlife learning student; Research placement student; and Visual design placement student. See the placement opportunities guide for full details. |
Research and Student Liaison Officer [email protected] |
| BRISTOL ZOO |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Bristol Zoo Gardens will be running two limited programmes this year. Animal Husbandry work experience from Monday 29th June to Friday 28th August and Education work experience from Monday 18th May to Friday 17th July. Both placements last for one week. |
You must formally apply for your chosen placement, see our website for full details. 2020 applications are closed. The application window for 2021 will open in December. |
| CAMPERDOWN WILDLIFE CENTRE |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Animal husbandry plus occasional marketing work experience at events etc. LBE Parks Service also offers work experience with park ranger teams. 1 or 2 week blocks or volunteering days. School / college placements – 14+, other must be 18+ |
Please contact: Aileen Whitelaw, Camperdown Wildlife Centre |
| CHESSINGTON WORLD OF ADVENTURES & ZOO |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Work Experience placements offered to students, aged 16 and over, currently studying animal welfare/management/veterinary. Minimum 1 week placement, working Monday-Friday only. Placements available on all Sections, except gorillas. Spaces limited and booked at least one year in advance. |
Please contact: [email protected] |
| CHESTER ZOO |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Experience offered on all animal sections, however no short term placements on Primate, Elephant or Carnivore sections. Minimum 3 month placement/Internship (5 days per week inc. every other weekend.) Must be 18+ and our internships are best suited to those taking a gap-year between qualifications, sandwich placements or those who have already graduated from University/College.One-Year Internship - similar voluntary work pattern for one year from September until the following August, to apply you must currently be studying for, or have completed, an animal science related course at HND or Degree level or Level 4 NVQ. Included are a series of structured workshops which give an insight into some of the other aspects of Zoo and conservation work. Advertisements for programme are posted in February/March, applications accepted before the middle of April each year. |
Please contact Penny Rudd/Liz Ball Cedar House Caughall Road Upton-by-Chester CHESTER CH2 1LH [email protected] Application form upon request for Three- Month Internship. One-Year Internship recruitment between February and April each year. |
| COLCHESTER ZOO |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
We host block placements of 10 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months, based on one of our animal sections. For the 10 weeks, 3 months, 6 months minimum age is 17 years olds and the 12 month placement minimum age is 18 years old. All our work experience placements follow the Zoo operational hours (40 hours) with placements taking place for 5 days out of 7 on a rotational basis, including weekends. All work experience placements are unpaid, and places are granted after an application process. We do not offer placements outside the above criteria, i.e., 1 or 2 days each week across a year and 2 week placements. For full details please visit our website: https://www.colchester-zoo.com/careers/work-experience-programme/ |
Please contact Lee McAlpin, Senior Conservation Educator [email protected] |
| CROCODILES OF THE WORLD |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Each year, Crocodiles of the World is happy to support a limited number of school Work Experience and college/university Work placement students. We cannot take students under the age of 16 years, and students will NOT be working with any of our crocodilians. |
In the first instance, contact our Head of Education at: [email protected], or see our website |
| CURRAGHS WILDLIFE PARK |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Age 14+ Experience offered in all aspects of captive animal management. Placements vary in length to suit individuals; however, most are reserved for students from the Isle of Man. |
Please contact Tina Jauncey Tel 01624 693574 Email [email protected] |
| DARTMOOR ZOOLOGICAL PARK |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
We offer 1 day a week work experience on Discovery and Learning Department for those who are 16+, this is usually offered to those undertaking a college course and require a certain amount of work experience hours. If interested contact: [email protected], 01752 837645. We offer a week placement Monday to Friday for Year 10 students - if interested contact: [email protected], 01752 837645. We also offer placements and internships on the Animal Department - people applying for this position are required to be 18+. We have no positions available for this currently, however applicants can keep updated through our website. These positions are generally 6 months. If want more information on this please email - [email protected], 01752 837645. |
For further information please contact our team on [email protected] or call us on 01752 837645. |
| DEEP SEA WORLD |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Mainly based in the zoo. Weekly school work experience, college 4 and 8 week placements, one day each week placements available. Also hosted 13 week Princes Trust placements. |
Please contact Chris Smith Deep Sea World North Queensferry Fife KY11 1JR |
| THE DEEP |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| No |
The Deep are not currently offering work experience or intern placements. |
|
| DRAYTON MANOR |
| Role |
Information |
Contact Details |
| No |
All details regarding (work experience/volunteer) opportunities can be found on the relevant page of the Drayton Manor website |
[email protected] |
| DUDLEY ZOO |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| No |
Dudley Zoo does offer work experience but we have an exclusive contract with Dudley College studying Animal Management Level 3. We take 6 students a day on 5 animal sections and 1 on education. This is for 12 weeks starting in January on Monday to Fridays. |
|
| DURRELL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION TRUST |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
We have opportunities in all animal departments, the education department, the marketing department and the landscape department. Block placements for a minimum of two months up to a maximum of a year. Students work alongside our staff gaining experience of the everyday realities of working in a wildlife park. Please note placements will be contingent on Jersey Government recommendations for safe working conditions during the Covid pandemic and that students will need to follow quarantine and screening requirements in order to enter the island. Students may be prevented from taking their place due to border closures. For more information please click here. |
Please contact [email protected] |
| EXMOOR ZOO |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Experience offered in animal husbandry (keeper) and in Educational Department. Daily and block placements available to a maximum of 3 placements on any one day. No minimum age if placed through an educational establishment, otherwise must be16+ |
Please visit the website or email [email protected] |
| FIVE SISTERS ZOO |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
We offer work experience weeks (Monday-Friday) to students that are 15 years or older through their schools, in conjunction with the local West Lothian Council. This can be applied for via gateway. The work experience weeks involve assisting the keepers with food preparation, feeding the animals, and cleaning the enclosures. We also run six one-week work shadowing placements each summer for those in higher education. This includes veterinary students and those studying another relevant course (zoology, animal management, conservation biology, animal biology etc) at college or university. Students that are interested in applying for one of these work shadowing weeks can contact [email protected] for more information on how to apply. We are currently accepting applications for Summer 2024 higher education placements. All applicants must have submitted a CV and covering letter to [email protected] by Monday the 26th of February 2024 at 1700. No late applications will be accepted. |
For more information please contact: [email protected] |
| FOLLY FARM |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| No |
Due to the current covid-19 pandemic our programme is on hold. Please check back for more information when this changes. |
Kate Beynon Folly Farm Leisure Ltd Begelly Kilgetty Pembrokeshire SA68 0XA |
| FOTA WILDLIFE PARK |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| No |
All internships / work placements postponed until further notice. |
Fota Wildlife Park Carrigtwohill Co. Cork Ireland Phone 00353 21 4812678 |
| HANWELL ZOO |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Animal husbandry plus occasional marketing work experience at events etc. LBE Parks Service also offers work experience with park ranger teams. 1 or 2 week blocks or volunteering days. School / college placements – 14+, other must be 18+ Placements in education, research and in general areas, placement length can vary. Must be 18+ |
Please contact Jim Gregory [email protected] |
| HAWK CONSERVANCY TRUST |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Areas covered: Husbandry, some basic bird handling. Interaction with the public during the displays. Block summer research placements offered by the scientific department. Vet students also spend time with our vet. Block placements only. Must be 16+ |
Work Experience Program Enquiries: Ryan Stephens [email protected] Research Placement & Volunteering Enquiries: [email protected] |
| INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR BIRDS OF PREY |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
We offer a variety of work experience placements from 2 weeks to a year in industry opportunities, covering a range of topics including basic husbandry, falconry techniques and education. If you have specific interests or requirements, please let us know as we may be able to tailor our placement opportunities. 18+ only. |
Please register your interest through our website www.icbp.org/volunteer |
| ISLE OF WIGHT ZOO |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Cleaning and maintaining animal enclosures, food preparation for the animals, some feeding of the animals Block placements 2 – 3 weeks |
Applications must be submitted between September and November (Full details and application form on our website. For queries contact: Work Experience Administrator Isle of Wight Zoo Yaverland Seafront Sandown Isle of Wight PO36 8QB [email protected] |
| KIRKLEATHAM OWL CENTRE |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Daily and block placements for individuals on animal based courses (General Animal Care, BTEC First Dip. Animal Care & BTEC Nat. Dip. Animal Management). Must be 16+ |
Kirkleatham Owl Centre Kirkleatham Village Redcar North Yorkshire TS10 5NW |
| KNOWSLEY SAFARI PARK |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| No |
Learning & Discovery department: placements will not be available for 2020. Animal department: under review for 2020. Adverts and information concerning any internships available for application can be found on our website. |
|
| LAKE DISTRICT WILDLIFE PARK |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Work expereince duties may vary but generally students assist the staff and keepers in the care of animals and maintenance of the Wildlife Park. Duties include cleaning, food prep, enclosure maintenance and interacting with visitors. |
Contact details are: Lauren Pickthall [email protected] |
| LAKELAND WILDLIFE OASIS |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Animal husbandry placements offered, minimum of 10 days over two weeks or 10 weeks. Must be over the age of 16 and studying an animal related course. No placements available for 2020. |
Neil Cook Hale, Milnthorpe LA7 7FE [email protected] |
| THE LIVING RAINFOREST |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Animal Team (minimum 3 weeks for a block, minimum 3 months for weekly), Plant Team (minimum 8 weeks for a block, minimum 4 months for weekly) Education Team (minimum 8 weeks for a block, minimum 4 months for weekly)and Maintenance Team (minimum 1 week for a block, minimum 4 months for weekly). Application Forms for work experience with our Plant, Animal, Maintenance & Education teams are downloadable from the Volunteer page on our website. (Must be 17+) Limited number of full-time internships offered each year to those 18+ (Of particular interest are students who’s relevant courses require a period in industry or are taking a sandwich year as part of their degree) |
Contact - Volunteer Co-ordinator - The Living Rainforest - [email protected] |
| LOTHERTON WILDLIFE WORLD |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Experience offered in Animal Husbandry and Grounds Maintenance, block and daily available. Must be 18+. |
Please contact [email protected] |
| MARWELL ZOO |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Keeper experience (Feb - Sept), 1 or 2 week placements. Sparsholt students apply to college (by Dec), vet students must apply by Sept in prior year. |
Please click here |
| NATIONAL MARINE AQUARIUM |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
We offer placements in our Discovery and Learning Team, enabling work experience students to engage with the public in informal marine conservation education. We also aim to provide opportunities throughout the working week to shadow our teaching team in more formal educational activities. Placement students will shadow our host team all week taking part in putting on shows, in busking activities and informal chats. Being a host provides a great opportunity to learn more about careers in marine biology as well as strengthen a breadth of communication skills. Requirements • Aged 14 – 17 and requested by school/ college to find a placement. • A strong interest in science communication and marine conservation. • Need to be reliable and dedicated. |
Please email a cover letter detailing why you would like a placement at the National Marine Aquarium, and a CV. Specify what dates the placement would be carried out. Work Experience Coordinator: Poppy Gitsham Email: [email protected] |
| THE NEW FOREST WILDLIFE PARK |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Unfortunately we will not be taking or considering any volunteer or work experience placements at all for the foreseeable future. |
Jason Palmer Curator of Collections The New Forest Wildlife Park [email protected] |
| NEWQUAY ZOO |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| No |
Animal husbandry work experience placements are offered to students enrolled at Cornwall College Newquay. We will also accept applications from veterinary students and from students wishing to undertake a research placement. Education work experience can also be available at some times throughout the year, for trainee teachers and those on relevant courses. |
For information on Animal husbandry and Education placements please contact nz[email protected] |
| NOAH'S ARK ZOO FARM |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| No |
Due to recent Government guidelines surrounding Covid 19, our work experience programme is currently on hold. Please note, it may be some time before we are able to reopen our programme. Please keep an eye on our website and social media for any updates. |
Paula Takle (Education Coordinator) Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, Clevedon Road, Wraxall, Bristol, BS48 1PG |
| PAIGNTON ZOO |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| No |
For practical animal work experience, we now only accept applications form students enrolled at South Devon College. We will also accept applications from students in other subjects (for example teacher training or veterinary medicine) and from students wishing to undertake a research placement. |
Please visit our website |
| PARADISE WILDLIFE PARK/ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF HERTFORDSHIRE |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Students will take park in general animal husbandry, park upkeep and visitor services. Students do not work with Reptiles, Primates or Large Carnivores. Please see our website for more information or email [email protected] |
Work experience coordinator - [email protected] Paradise Wildlife Park, White Stubbs Lane, EN10 7QA |
| PEAK WILDLIFE PARK |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Yes we offer work experience in animal keeping. Applicants must be 18+ years of age. Placements vary in length to suit individuals; however, most are reserved for students from an academic background who are required to undertake an industry placement. |
[email protected] Peak Wildlife Park Winkhill Leek, ST13 7QR Or contact us via the online form |
| SEALIFE LONDON |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Working with the SEA LIFE London Aquarium Guest Experience Team you can find out about some of the incredible animals we look after and how we educate our guests about vital marine conservation issues. Every aquarium day is busy, unique and unpredictable so we cannot guarantee exactly what you will be doing; helping with public feeding displays, educating guests from our interactive touchpool or taking guests around on our Behind the Scenes Tour to show them how we look after over 600 marine species! Placements run Monday – Friday during term times only and are not available to book over weekends or school holidays. 1 or 2 week placements available. Please read through the work experience pack available to download from the ‘Working with Us’ page on the SEA LIFE London Aquarium website for detailed information on our work experience program and on how to apply. |
[email protected] |
| TILGATE NATURE CENTRE |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Work Experience placements offered to students, aged 16 and over, currently studying animal welfare/management/veterinary. Spaces limited and booked at least one year in advance. |
Eloise Gay – Nature Centre Manager Email – [email protected] Telephone - 01293 521168 |
| TWYCROSS ZOO |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
All details regarding work experience opportunities can be found on the relevant page of the Twycross Zoo website. |
[email protected] |
| TROPIQUARIA WILDLIFE PARK |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Experience offered in all areas, as block (week or month) or daily i.e. 1 day per week for several months (mainly for Nat. Diploma Animal Management). Must be 15+ (limited animal contact), 16+ = greater contact |
Chris Moiser Tropiquaria Washford Cross Watchet TA23 0QB |
| WEST MIDLAND SAFARI AND LEISURE PARK |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| No |
At present we are unable to offer any work experience placements but we do offer internships on all our animal sections (except elephants) and with our Education team. Full details can be found on our website. |
Full details can be found on our website. |
| WILDWOOD TRUST |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Work experience placements are available in full time blocks in the following departments: • Animal Keepers • Conservation • Education • Rangers Please visit our website for more information. |
Volunteer Manager – Laura Metcalfe [email protected] 01227 209 616 Wildwood Trust Herne Common Kent CT6 7LQ |
| WOBURN SAFARI PARK |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
You’ll be working in the Safari Drive through or Animal Encounters and there’s a whole range of things you’ll be doing, including: • Animal husbandry • Feeding • Preparing feeds • Enriching the animals’ environment • Interacting with customers These placements are unpaid and we can’t offer to refund any expenses you incur like travel costs. These placements are only available to students who are at least 18 years of age, on a relevant academic course and able to undertake a placement of at least twelve weeks in length. For more information visit our webpage |
Please contact Head of Education and Customer Liason [email protected], Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9QN |
| WWT ARUNDEL |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Volunteer and student placements available, varying in time and commitment but must be 18+. Available placements; Zoo keepers, Reserves wardens & Education. |
Please contact Sam Halpin, Collections Manager: [email protected] |
| WWT SLIMBRIDGE |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
Work experience: To find out more about what WWT Slimbridge has to offer and how to apply, please contact our work experience coordinator via [email protected]k for an information pack and application form. We are pleased to offer a limited number of work experience placements each year within the following departments: Living Collections – birds, Living Collections – mammals, Living Collections – amphibians, Reserves and Learning. The application window for a placement the following year opens each September and closes mid-December. Please note that Work Experience students must be over 14 years old and placements last one week only (Monday – Friday). Visit our website. Placements: Every year we are pleased to offer a rare opportunity to gain excellent practical experience in our fabulous wetland sites by offering a number of year-long placements. More information can be found on our website. |
Please contact our work experience coordinator via [email protected] |
| ZSL London Zoo |
| Work Experience |
Information |
Contact Details |
| Yes |
ZSL London Zoo’s work experience programme is currently only offered to Year 10 students from the London boroughs of Camden and Westminster. As the programme is in its infancy, it is only run through schools due to the logistics necessary. Therefore will not be able to facilitate adhoc requests. ZSL do run regular career focussed courses, conferences and events throughout the year. |
For full details visit our website. |
